1-1 By: Martin (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 1196
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 1993;
1-3 May 18, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
1-4 Development; May 25, 1993, reported favorably by the following
1-5 vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 25, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-8 Parker x
1-9 Lucio x
1-10 Ellis x
1-11 Haley x
1-12 Harris of Dallas x
1-13 Harris of Tarrant x
1-14 Leedom x
1-15 Madla x
1-16 Rosson x
1-17 Shapiro x
1-18 Wentworth x
1-19 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-20 AN ACT
1-21 relating to a review and analysis of the process by which agencies
1-22 issue permits.
1-23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-24 SECTION 1. Section 481.123, Government Code, is amended to
1-25 read as follows:
1-26 Sec. 481.123. Duties. The office shall:
1-27 (1) provide comprehensive information on permits
1-28 required for business enterprises in the state and make that
1-29 information available to applicants and other persons;
1-30 (2) assist applicants in obtaining timely and
1-31 efficient permit review and in resolving issues arising from the
1-32 review;
1-33 (3) facilitate contacts between applicants and state
1-34 agencies responsible for processing and reviewing permit
1-35 applications;
1-36 (4) assist applicants in the resolution of outstanding
1-37 issues identified by state agencies, including delays experienced
1-38 in permit review;
1-39 (5) develop comprehensive application procedures to
1-40 expedite the permit process;
1-41 (6) compile a comprehensive list of all permits
1-42 required of a person desiring to establish, operate, or expand a
1-43 business enterprise in the state;
1-44 (7) encourage and facilitate the participation of
1-45 federal and local government agencies in permit coordination;
1-46 (8) make recommendations for eliminating,
1-47 consolidating, simplifying, expediting, or otherwise improving
1-48 permit procedures affecting business enterprises, by requesting
1-49 that the state auditor, with the advice and support of the
1-50 department, initiate a business permit re-engineering review
1-51 process involving all state agencies;
1-52 (9) develop and implement an outreach program to
1-53 publicize and make small business entrepreneurs and others aware of
1-54 services provided by the office; <and>
1-55 (10) adopt rules, procedures, instructions, and forms
1-56 required to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the
1-57 office under this subchapter; and
1-58 (11) except as provided in Section 481.129, complete
1-59 the implementation of the above enumerated business permit review
1-60 process on or before September 1, 1994, and provide all recommended
1-61 statutory changes as needed to the Texas Legislature on or before
1-62 January 1, 1995.
1-63 SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
1-64 amended by adding Section 481.129 to read as follows:
1-65 Sec. 481.129. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS. The office shall
1-66 consult and cooperate with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-67 Commission in conducting any studies on permits issued by the Texas
1-68 Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The Texas Natural
2-1 Resource Conservation Commission shall cooperate fully in the study
2-2 and analysis of the procedures involving the issuance of permits by
2-3 that commission and shall, in any report issued, evaluate all
2-4 alternatives for improving the process pursuant to the office's
2-5 responsibilities under Section 481.123. The office and the Texas
2-6 Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall jointly submit any
2-7 report required under Section 481.123.
2-8 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
2-9 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
2-14 * * * * *
2-15 Austin,
2-16 Texas
2-17 May 25, 1993
2-18 Hon. Bob Bullock
2-19 President of the Senate
2-20 Sir:
2-21 We, your Committee on Economic Development to which was referred
2-22 H.B. No. 1196, have had the same under consideration, and I am
2-23 instructed to report it back to the Senate with the recommendation
2-24 that it do pass and be printed.
2-25 Parker,
2-26 Chairman
2-27 * * * * *
2-28 WITNESSES
2-29 No witnesses appeared on H.B. No. 1196.